PC stuck at a blurry login screen

Anonymous
2019-07-31T17:27:31+00:00

I recently updated my PC and now it is stuck at the login screen. It boots up normally to the lock screen, after pressing any button or using the mouse it goes to the next screen for the login but does not load the password box and the screen remains blurry. I can use the power, network and easy of access buttons but that is it.

Safe mode will not start, restarting 3 times does not take me to the repair screen, ctrl+alt+delete does nothing, I even tried using ctrl+F8 and nothing has worked. Anyone have any ideas on how to fix/bypass the login screen?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows Hello, lock screen and sign-in

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Anonymous
2019-09-05T01:28:41+00:00

***FIX***

Initial Steps (Enter Recovery Environment):

  1. Enter Recovery Environment (If you are unable to get into the recovery environment via a menu, you can turn off your system during the initial boot when the Windows logo is on the screen and the dots are circling. Do this at least twice and you'll see the message "Starting Automatic Repair").
  2. Once the recovery environment loads select "See advanced repair options", then "Troubleshoot", then "Advanced options".

Method #1 (Via Command prompt - assumes basic command prompt knowledge):

  1. Click "Command Prompt".
  2. Change directory to your boot drive if necessary (for example, type c: and press <ENTER>)
  3. Type "CD %windir%\system32\config\systemprofile\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\caches <ENTER>
  4. Type "DIR <ENTER>" and make sure you are in the right path. You should see one or more .db files -- usually just cversions.3.db. If there are no files in this directory see the addendum below.
  5. Type "DEL *.* <ENTER>"
  6. Reboot and test

Method #2 (Via Safe Mode and File Explorer - may require adjusting permissions):

  1. Click "Start-up Settings" and "Restart" to reboot the system and get the option to enter Safe Mode.)
  2. At the Startup Settings screen press "4" to boot in Safe Mode.
  3. Log into your administrator-level account.
  4. Open File Explorer and browse to**%windir%\system32\config** (example: c:\windows\system32\config)
  5. Gain access to systemprofile (you may be able to just double-click it to gain access)
  6. Drill down to**%windir%\system32\config\systemprofile\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\caches**
  7. Delete all files inside caches
  8. Reboot and test

Addendum

Some have reported that it is necessary to clear the caches folder of the local user account also or instead of the systemprofile account. If the above procedure does not work for you, delete the file(s) in the local user cache folder (located in %localappdata%\microsoft\windows\caches) using either Safe Mode or the recovery environment command prompt.

Good luck!

Special thanks to John_E_M for first suggesting the localappdata caches folder, and to Artaeos who also narrowed down the problem to the systemprofile caches folder at the same time I did. Great job guys!

**Edited 9/6/2019 to add command prompt method, local account provision, and acknowledgements**

-Forjo

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-08-27T18:28:35+00:00

    Hi,

    I have the same problem on DELL Precision T3500 with Windows 10 Profesional after installing KB4505903 (compilation 18362.267). When my computer restarted, a login screen appears and when I hit any key, the login screen blurs and stuck for about 15 seconds. Then it gets back to user select screen. I tried put my password on blurred screen but I was not able to log in to system. I am able to log in to system in safe mode and computer is working fine.

    Then! In my system configuration I have enabled RDP. Turns out that I am able to log in to system by RDP. Unfortunately some processes are using too much processor time. For example: Chrome Installer, Dropbox Updater, Inter Driver Update, Windows Update. All this processes are using about 20% of my procesor time.

    I was able to install latest update KB4512508 (compilation 18362.295) but this didn't help... still have the same problems.

    Additional information - when logged in from RDP I go to Settings, Accounts, Log in options - whole Settings windows hangs and cryptographics service is using more then 50% of processor time...

    So... In my opinion this has nothing to do with graphics configuration and this is not a blur screen that is the problem. This has to bo something wrong with login process, some cryptographic things, etc.

    Useful tip - start your windows in safe mode, enable RDP, reboot, log in from another machine to try to back up you data if needed.

    I hope Microsoft will find out the problem very quick and apply needed patch in next upgrade.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-08-27T17:51:04+00:00

    I can confirm a clean install with all updates installed and all drivers loaded is running fine. I have not installed any of the optional Dell applications and I'm going to avoid any unnecessary programs until we get more information.

    If possible, backup and clean install on your machine if you're able. Especially those of you still running on a machine that had an in-place upgrade from Win 8.x to Win10. It's always nice to start with a fresh install... Even better if you're not forced into it because of a bad update!

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-08-27T17:14:51+00:00

    All of these efforts are great but I believe in the end you will have to reinstall windows.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-08-27T17:08:29+00:00

    @Thornton-IT and jb472

    OK, is this a laptop and what resolution and DPI setting are you using?

    Do you have your system set to use the Lock screen as a background for the logon page?

    I don't know why this might make a difference, but have you tried a second display?  The boot and logon stuff normally stays on the primary monitor so this may do absolutely nothing.  But there is also a situation with a Black Screen being discussed.  If you were to be connected to even another system, it might be involved.

    Since none of my systems are having this problem, I can only guess and I am trying to go outside the normal box and look for problems in strange places.

    I suppose we can always hope the next CU will straighten this out but the next Win 10 build upgrade may be only a few weeks away....   I would hate to see them release a new build with this situation.

    Is this the registry key you modified?

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects{0F7626DF-50DE-47F3-B5B3-3145DDA73D90}Machine\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System

    With GPedit   Computer Configuration -- Admin templates  --   System -  Logon - Show Clear logon background

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